The Cryan' Shames - Synthesis (Full Stereo Album) (1969)

Available at: http://www.amazon.com/Synthesis-Cryan-Shames/dp/B0000636C0/ref=sr_1_5?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1354229073&sr=1-5&keywords=cryan+shames
The Cryan' Shames is an American garage rock group from Hinsdale, Illinois. They originally formed as The Travelers, with founding members Tom Doody ("Toad"), Gerry Stone ("Stonehenge"), Dave Purple ("Grape") of The Prowlers, Denny Conroy and Jim Fairs from The Roosters, Jim Pilster ("J.C. Hooke", so named because he was born without a left hand and wore a hook), and Bill Hughes. In 1966, upon learning that another band already had the name The Travelers, they needed to find another name; J.C. Hooke remarked that their difficulty in doing so was "a cryan' shame," and thus named the band. After signing with Bob Monaco, the promotion manager for Destination Music, their first hit single was "If I Needed Someone", which was not released in the US (but included on their debut album). It was soon followed by "Sugar and Spice," a Tony Hatch song that was a hit in 1963 (everywhere but in the US) for the English group The Searchers. The Shames' version reached #49 in the USA (while reaching #4 on local radio WLS). They signed to Columbia in 1966, and while they never were to become a national success, their singles and albums continued to sell well in the Chicago area. The group disbanded in December 1969, but reunited again and continues to tour. Jim "J.C. Hooke" Pilster and Tom Doody (Toad) are the only remaining original members in the current lineup. Two members of The Cryan' Shames have since died: bassist Dave Purple in June 2001, and his replacement Isaac Guillory, on December 31, 2000.

Synthesis is the third album by The Cryan' Shames and was released in 1968. It contains some lineup changes from their second album, A Scratch in the Sky. Drummer Dennis Conroy was replaced by Alan Dawson, and Jim Fairs moved on with Dave Carter on guitar. Synthesis is an apt name for an album that, like its predecessor, A Scratch in the Sky, proved the Cryan' Shames to be among the most versatile mainstream pop/rock groups of the late 1960s.

1. Greenburg, Glickstein, Charles, David Smith & Jones 0:00
2. Baltimore Oriole 2:16
3. It's All Right 6:46
4. Your Love 8:57
5. A Master's Fool 12:26
6. First Train To California 16:05
7. The Painter 19:04
8. Sweet Girl Of Mine 21:56
9. 20th Song 24:22
10. Let's Get Together 26:30
11. Symphony Of The Wind 29:57
Bonus Tracks:
12. A Master's Fool (Mono Single Version) 33:20
13. First Train To California (Mono Single Version) 37:00
14. Greenburg, Glickstein, Charles, David Smith And Jones (Mono Single Version) 40:00
15. Your Love (Mono Single Version) 42:19
16. 20th Song (Mono Single Version) 45:16
17. Let's Get Together (Mono Version) 47:28
18. Bits And Pieces 50:03
19. Rainmaker 52:40
Hidden Bonus Track:
20. Synthesis Promo Radio Spot 55:07

Personnel:
Tom Doody -- vocals
Jim Pilster -- vocals and percussion
Alan Dawson -- drums and vocals
Dave Carter -- vocals and guitar
Isaac Guillory -- vocals, guitar, bass and keyboards
Lenny Kerley -- vocals, bass and guitar